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Best Restaurants in New Jersey as Told by Local Bloggers

The Best Restaurants in New Jersey, as Told by Local Food Bloggers

Most people say if you can live in New Jersey, you can live anywhere. I, however disagree with that sentiment. I feel as if once you experience New Jersey living you can’t, or at the very least don’t want to, live anywhere else. Granted, I may be a little biased, because I have lived in New Jersey my entire life, by in my opinion New Jersey has it all. Restaurants, breweries, wineries, and pubs are scattered throughout the Garden State and in true New Jersey fashion, they are all looking to one up each other (preface by The Blue Collar Foodie).

Below is a list of recommendations from local New Jersey food bloggers about the best restaurants to eat at. Whether you have lived in New Jersey all your life, or just moved here, you should be able to find something new and exciting!

“These are my favorite places to find New Jersey’s best food. I’ve been there, I loved the food, and I’ll return. If someone asks me for a really good Thai restaurant, I’ll send them to Topaz Thai in Belleville. You can’t go wrong suggesting Chendu 1 Palace as one of New Jersey’s best Chinese restaurants. Spirito’s serves the red sauce Italian dishes my Grandfather loved. Friends and family are sick of me praising De Lucia’s pizza as the best on the planet. Among the more obscure cuisines, Pho Thai-Lao Kitchen is the only New Jersey restaurant I’ve found so far serving Laotion food; Shirin Cafe is the place for Uzbek fare.”

“St. Stephens Green Publick House (Spring Lake). The best Irish Pub at the shore. Well prepared classic pub food in an authentic setting. One can’t go wrong with the Fish and Chips or Shepherd’s Pie. Nice selection of Irish and domestic beers on tap. Two fireplaces on two floors.

Avenue (Long Branch). Beautifully designed open space overlooking the Atlantic. Great brunch,

lunch and dinner menu featuring French inspired cuisine and a fantastic raw bar. Outside dining and beach bar in the warmer months. Le Club on the second floor for late night fun.”

Bims Pizza (Millville, NJ): In most regions in this beautiful country of ours, Pizza is Pizza. That is simply not the case in New Jersey. Damn near, every person living in New Jersey has a favorite pizza place and they are not shy to tell why it is better than your favorite. For me, that pizza place is located in Millville, NJ and its name is Bims. Bims Pizza is the perfect combination of fresh ingredients, homemade sauce, and consistency. The latter is probably because in the last 40 years or so there has only been one man making the Pies, and that is your friendly neighborhood pizza man, Joe! Stop in say hi, but bring cash

Pub 199 (Mt. Arlington): If you are looking for value, Pub 199 is the spot for you. You can rock a 20 Oz New York Strip or a Lobster for under $15.00. With deals like this you really get your money’s worth when dining at this rather spacious establishment. I would leave my vegetarian friends at home because not only will you be eating copious amounts of fish and flesh, but the entire dining hall is adorned with animals that the proprietor has shot and killed.

Sanook Thai Cuisine located in Haddonfield New Jersey- the food is fresh, flavorful and has traditional dishes that represent the great region of Southeast Asia. My favorite dish is the cucumber salad, fresh, vibrant, spicy. Next up is the restaurant, Indiya, located in Collingswood New Jersey. The food is consistently good. There's a delicious buffet lunch that offers makhani chicken, rice, vegetable soup and fried cauliflower with ginger and Indian spices. These are just a few items on the buffet. Toscano Ristorante is located in Bordentown New Jersey. It's a traditional Italian restaurant that includes elements of fusion with Asian Cuisine in some dishes. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful.

90 Acres at Natirar(Peapack, NJ)- This restaurant truly makes food and beverage an art. It is an American restaurant that celebrates local and seasonal flavors. Pricey but worth the splurge

Star Tavern(West Orange, NJ)- This West Orange pizza joint has made the country's top lists for its pies and it's well deserved. The no frills restaurant serves up thin crust pizza that is anything but ordinary.

Razza (Jersey City) - Artisanal wood-fired pizza. simple, local ingredients. We love the rustic, cozy feel of what used to be a theatre! Always a wait so make sure you get there early!

Via 45 (Red Bank) - Another place that ALWAYS has a wait and just happens to be rustic italian, with antique and mismatched furniture and decor that brings you back to Nonnas house! Top notch hospitality. The first time dining there we met the chef and she provided an off the menu tasting menu. It's owned by the lovely couple, Claudette and Lauren. The menu changed often but always ask if the pear and cheese "purses" (aka melt-in-your-mouth pasta pillows from heaven) are available!!

Heirloom kitchen (Old Bridge) - Features one of NJ's most up and coming chefs, David Viana. It's an open kitchen cooking school, farm to table restaurant and supper club! Enough said.

We want to thank all of these people for their work in contributing to this blog post! Whether it’s for the breathtaking views, a new job, or the amazing food, know you can trust the experienced team of realtors at Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate to help you find the perfect home!